ELECTRICITY
PREPARED BY:
ENGR. HOMER O. GAGANAO
What is electricity?
It is a form of energy resulting from the existence and movement of electric
charges. In physics, electricity typically involves:
Electric Charge (q) – measured in coulombs (C).
Electric Current (I) – the rate of flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (A).
Defined as:
Voltage and Potential Difference
Voltage (V) is the electric potential difference between two points.
It is a “push” that makes charges move through a conductor.
Electromotive Force
It is the energy provided by a source (like a battery or generator) per unit charge to move electric
charges through a circuit. It is also the total work a source does in moving a unit charge around a
complete circuit.
In a battery:
The EMF is the ideal voltage provided by the battery when no current is flowing (open circuit condition).
It represents the maximum potential difference the battery can supply.
Note: EMF is not a force, even though it has “force” in the name. It is actually a potential
difference and is measured in volts.
Terminal Voltage
It is the actual voltage output measured across the terminals (positive and negative ends) of a battery
or power source when it is supplying current to a circuit.
Ohm’s Law
It states that the current (I) flowing through a conductor is directly
proportional to the voltage (V) across its ends, provided that the
temperature and other physical conditions remain constant.
Interpretation:
If voltage increases, current increases linearly, as long as resistance remains
constant.
Resistance is the constant of proportionality and depends on the material,
length, and cross-sectional area of the conductor.
Types of Circuits
Series Circuit
Components connected end-to-end
Same current flows through all elements.
Total Resistance:
Parallel Circuit
Components connected across the same voltage.
Voltage is the same across each branch.
Total resistance:
Power in Electrical Circuits
Kirchhoff’s Rules (Laws)
Kirchhoff’s rules help analyse complex circuits where components are neither purely in
series nor in parallel.
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) – Junction Rule
“The algebraic sum of currents entering a junction equals the sum of currents leaving the
junction.”
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) – Loop Rule
“The algebraic sum of all voltages around any closed loop in a circuit is zero.”
Sign Convention in KVL:
Going through a resistor in the direction of current: subtract IR
Going through a resistor opposite to current: and IR
Going from negative to positive of battery: add emf
Going from positive to negative: subtract emf
Sample Problem #01
In this circuit, three resistors receive the same amount of voltage (24 V) from a single
source. Calculate the amount of current “drawn” by each resistor, as well as the
amount of power dissipated by each resistor:
Solution:
Sample Problem #02
Three resistors are connected in series. What is the total resistance in
the circuit?
Solution:
Sample Problem #03
A 12V battery is connected to three resistors in series: . Find the current
flowing in the circuit.
Solution:
Sample Problem #04
From the previous problem, find the voltage drop across each resistor.
Solution:
Sample Problem #05
A series circuit has a 10Ω resistor connected to a 20V battery. What is
the power dissipated by the resistor?
Solution:
Sample Problem #06
Given the circuit below with 3A of current running through the 4Ω resistor as indicated in the
diagram to the right. Determine (a) the current through each of the resistors; (b) the
voltage of the battery on the left; and (c) the power delivered to the circuit by the battery on
the right.
Solution:
(b)
(c)
